Nestable building blocks

ABSTRACT

In one embodiment, an article of manufacture includes a plurality of nestable, identically sized building blocks, each block having at least one inward-slanting side wall connected to a top surface of the block at an edge of the block, wherein a first block defines a hollow interior space adapted to receive a second block in a nested configuration. One or more of the blocks have one or more recesses on the top surface that are each designed to receive a portion of the bottom edge of another block, thereby providing increased stability for non-nested configurations. A recess may have a curved shape that can receive a curved portion of another block at different angular orientations of the blocks. The recesses may engage another block&#39;s bottom edge in a non-interlocking manner or in an interlocking manner.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional application No. 62/326,122, filed on Apr. 22, 2016 as attorney docket no. 1270.003PROV, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to mechanical building blocks.

Description of the Related Art

This section introduces aspects that may help facilitate a better understanding of the invention. Accordingly, the statements of this section are to be read in this light and are not to be understood as admissions about what is prior art or what is not prior art.

Numerous academic journal articles indicate that block play among preschoolers improves cognitive development generally as well as language acquisition and mathematical ability specifically. This improvement is particularly pronounced among children lower on the socio-economic ladder. Unfortunately, the very group that would be most likely to profit from block play, is often excluded from such play due to 1) the cost of suppling/procuring block sets and 2) the space needed to store and the resources needed to move such block sets when owners may well be homeless or transient.

SUMMARY

Problems in the prior art are addressed in accordance with the principles of the present invention by a set of nestable building blocks. Because the inside volume of such blocks is empty to allow the blocks to nest and to allow the use of fabrication materials other than wood or heavy-duty plastic, significant savings on production cost can be effected, resulting in notably lower sales prices.

Because the blocks can be nested for storage, an approximately sixteen-fold increase (or more) in building volume for a given storage volume can be obtained. For instance, 18 blocks, each with an individual building volume of 60 cubic inches, could be housed in a nested configuration in a storage volume of around 120 cubic inches, providing an approximate building volume of 1080 cubic inches. Blocks with a storage height of 9.5 inches can be used to build structures around 7 feet in height.

Nestable building blocks can provide the advantages of a full set of traditional building blocks to under-funded educational programs and low-income families for a fraction of the cost, storage requirements, and transportation limitations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals identify similar or identical elements.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a stack 100 formed by three identical building blocks 110(1)-110(3), according to one embodiment of the invention, in a nested configuration;

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a stack 102 formed by the same three building blocks 110(1)-110(3) of FIG. 1A in a particular non-nested configuration;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a building block 210, according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of a stack 200 of two building blocks 210 of FIG. 2A in a non-nested configuration;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a building block 310 according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of a stack 300 formed by three building blocks 310 of FIG. 3A in a particular non-nested configuration;

FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional side view of the stack 300 of building blocks 310(1)-310(3) of FIG. 3B, according to a non-interlocking implementation of the invention;

FIG. 3D is a cross-sectional side view of the stack 300 of building blocks 310(1)-310(3) of FIG. 3B, according to an interlocking implementation of the invention;

FIG. 3E is a perspective view of a stack 302 formed by the three building blocks 310(1)-310(3) of FIG. 3B in a different non-nested configuration;

FIG. 3F is a close-up perspective view of a part of the top surface 314 of the building block 310 of FIG. 3A showing three partial-circle shaped recesses 320(a)-320(c);

FIG. 3G is a close-up, exploded, perspective view of a partial circular portion of the bottom edge 318 of the third building block 310(3) of FIG. 3E engaging with the partial-circle shaped recess 320(b) on the top surface 314 of the second building block 310(2) of FIG. 3E;

FIGS. 4A-4C are perspective views of three building blocks 410(1)-410(3), respectively, according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a stack 500 formed by two building blocks 510(1) and 510(2), according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a stack 600 formed by three identical building blocks 610(1)-610(3), according to another embodiment of the invention, in a particular non-nested configuration;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a stack 700 formed by three identical building blocks 710(1)-710(3), according to another embodiment of the invention, in a particular non-nested configuration;

FIG. 8A is a perspective view of a relatively flat building block 810 that may be used with other building blocks of the invention; and

FIG. 8B is a perspective view of a stack formed using five nestable building blocks 210 of FIGS. 2A-2B and two flat building blocks 810 of FIG. 8A, in a particular non-nested configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Detailed illustrative embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. However, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merely representative for purposes of describing example embodiments of the present invention. The present invention may be embodied in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to only the embodiments set forth herein. Further, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments of the invention.

As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the,” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It further will be understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and/or “including,” specify the presence of stated features, steps, or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, or components. It also should be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.

In certain embodiments, the invention is a set of nestable, three-dimensional building blocks. Preferred embodiments contain one or more subsets of blocks, where the blocks of a given subset all have the same shape (although possibly different colors and/or surface patterns), while the blocks of different subsets (if any) have different shapes. Depending on the embodiment, the set may contain (i) only non-interlocking blocks, (ii) only interlocking blocks, or (iii) both non-interlocking blocks and interlocking blocks.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a stack 100 formed by three identical building blocks 110(1)-110(3), according to one embodiment of the invention, in a nested configuration. Each block 110 has four trapezoid-shaped side walls 112(1)-112(4) and a rectangle-shaped top surface 114, where a first pair of opposing, trapezoidal side walls 112(1) and 112(3) have the same relatively large size, and the remaining pair of opposing, trapezoidal side walls 112(2) and 112(4) have the same relatively small size. Each block 110 has two opposing, relatively long, top edges 116(1) and 116(3) that correspond to where the two relatively long sides of the rectangular top surface 114 meet the two relatively long, top sides of the trapezoidal side walls 112(1) and 112(3). Each block 110 also has two opposing, relatively short, top edges 116(2) and 116(4) that correspond to where the two relatively short sides of the rectangular top surface 114 meet the two relatively short, top sides of the trapezoidal side walls 112(2) and 112(4).

Each building block 110 is hollow with an open bottom such that the blocks can be configured in the nested configuration of FIG. 1 A with (i) the open bottom of the second block 110(2) receiving the top of the first block 110(1) and (ii) the open bottom of the third block 110(3) receiving the top of the second block 110(2).

Note that, in alternative embodiments (not shown), the top surface 114 of one or more building blocks 110 has a square shape, and all four side walls 112 have the same size trapezoidal shape.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a stack 102 formed by the same three building blocks 110(1)-110(3) of FIG. 1A in a particular non-nested configuration, in which the first and second blocks 110(1) and 110(2) are positioned end to end on a surface (not explicitly shown) and the third block 110(3) is placed on top of the other two blocks with (i) the bottom edge 118(2) of the third block 110(3) resting on the top surface 114 of the first block 110(1) and (ii) the bottom edge 118(4) (not visible in FIG. 1 B) of the third block 110(3) resting on the top surface 114 of the second block 110(2).

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a building block 210, according to another embodiment of the invention. Block 210 has two opposing, trapezoid-shaped side walls 212(1) and 212(3) having the same relatively large size, two opposing, partial frustum-shaped side walls 212(2) and 212(4) having the same relatively small size, and a racetrack-shaped top surface 214. Note that each side wall 212(2) and 212(4) corresponds to the outer surface of a portion of a frustum of a cone formed by dissecting the frustum vertically. The block 110 has two opposing, straight, top edges 216(1) and 216(3) that correspond to where the two relatively long, straight sides of the racetrack-shaped top surface 214 meet the two straight, top sides of the two trapezoidal side walls 212(1) and 212(3). The block 210 also has two opposing, curved, top edges 216(2) and 216(4) that correspond to where the two curved sides of the racetrack-shaped top surface 214 meet the two curved, top sides of the partial frustum-shaped side walls 212(2) and 212(4).

Here, too, each building block 210 is hollow with an open bottom such that multiple blocks 210 can be configured in a nested configuration analogous to the nested configuration of FIG. 1 A with the open bottom of a second block 210 receiving the top of a first block 210, and so on.

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of a stack 200 of two building blocks 210 of FIG. 2A in a non-nested configuration, in which the second block 210(2) is rotated 90 degrees with respect to the first block 210(1) such that the two straight bottom edges 218(1) and 218(3) of the second block 210(2) rest on the top surface 214 of the first block 210(1).

Note that, in some implementations, the top surface 214 of one or more blocks 210 is circular, and those blocks 210 have a single frustum-shaped side wall 212 (and no trapezoidal-shaped side walls).

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a building block 310 according to another embodiment of the present invention. Block 310 has the same general shape as block 210 of FIG. 2A with two opposing, trapezoid-shaped side walls 312(1) and 312(3) having the same relatively large size, two opposing, partial frustum-shaped side walls 312(2) and 312(4) having the same relatively small size, and a racetrack-shaped top surface 314.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the top surface 314 of building block 310 has a number of different elongated recesses 320 having shapes designed to receive the bottom edge 318 of another block 310 (or the bottom edge 218 of a block 210 of FIG. 2A. Some of the recesses, like recess 320(1), have partial-circle shapes that are designed to receive the partial-circular portion of the bottom edge 318 (or 218) of another block 310 (or 210) in a range of different angular orientations between the two blocks. Other recesses, like recess 320(2), have shapes that are designed to receive the relatively long, mostly straight portion of the bottom edge 318 (or 218) of another block 310 (or 210) at only one angular orientation between the two blocks. The recesses 320 enable blocks to be configured in relatively stable configurations with the (interlocking or non-interlocking) engagement of certain blocks' bottom edges 318 (or 218) with other blocks' recesses 320 helping to hold the blocks together, thereby increasing the stability of the configuration.

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of a stack 300 formed by three building blocks 310 of FIG. 3A in a particular non-nested configuration, in which the first and second blocks 310(1) and 310(2) are positioned side by side on a surface (not explicitly shown), and the third block 310(3) is placed on top of the other two blocks with (i) a portion of the bottom edge 318 of the third block 310(3) resting within a recess 320(2) on the top surface 314 of the first block 310(1) and (ii) another portion of the bottom edge 318 of the third block 310(3) resting within a recess 320(2) on the top surface 314 of the second block 310(1). Note that, for simplicity, FIG. 3B does not show all of the recesses 320 of the blocks 310 that are shown in FIG. 3A. Note further that the recesses 320(2) that are engaged with portions of the bottom edge 318 of the third block 310(3) are obscured in the view of FIG. 3B; the recesses 320(2) that are shown in FIG. 3B are recesses that are not engaged in that particular configuration.

FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional side view of the stack 300 of building blocks 310(1)-310(3) of FIG. 3B, according to a non-interlocking implementation of the invention. In this embodiment, the bottom edges 318 and the recesses 320(2) of the blocks 310 are designed to engage in a non-interlocking manner with the width of the recesses 320(2) being wider than the thickness of the bottom edges 318.

FIG. 3D is a cross-sectional side view of the stack 300 of building blocks 310(1)-310(3) of FIG. 3B, according to an interlocking implementation of the invention. In this embodiment, the bottom edges 318 and the recesses 320(2) of the blocks 310 are designed to provide detent-based interlocking of the blocks to provide even further stability to certain block configurations with the width of the tops of the recesses 320(2) being slightly narrower than the thickness of the bottom edges 318.

FIG. 3E is a perspective view of a stack 302 formed by the three building blocks 310(1)-310(3) of FIG. 3B in a different non-nested configuration, in which the first and second blocks 310(1) and 310(2) are positioned side by side on a surface (not explicitly shown), and the third block 310(3) is placed on top of the other two building blocks with (i) a partial circular portion of the bottom edge 318 of the third building block 310(3) resting within a recess 320(1) on the top surface 314 of the first block 310(1) and (ii) another partial circular portion of the bottom edge 318 of the third block 310(3) resting within a recess 320(1) on the top surface 314 of the second block 310(1). Note that, for simplicity, FIG. 3B does not show all of the recesses 320 of the blocks 310 that are shown in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 3F is a close-up perspective view of a part of the top surface 314 of the building block 310 of FIG. 3A showing three partial-circle shaped recesses 320(a)-320(c).

FIG. 3G is a close-up, exploded, perspective view of a partial circular portion of the bottom edge 318 of the third building block 310(3) of FIG. 3E engaging with the partial-circle shaped recess 320(b) on the top surface 314 of the second building block 310(2) of FIG. 3E. Note that the partial-circle shaped recess 320(b) of the second block 310(2) can receive the partial circular portion of the bottom edge 318 of the third block 310(3) over a range of different relative angular orientations between the two blocks.

FIGS. 4A-4C are perspective views of three building blocks 410(1)-410(3), respectively, according to another embodiment of the invention. Blocks 410(1)-410(3) have the same overall shape as the blocks 210 of FIGS. 2A-2B and the blocks 310 of FIGS. 3A-3G.

Instead of elongated recesses, like recesses 320 of blocks 310, blocks 410(1) and 410(2) have plus-sign shaped recesses 420. In addition, blocks 410(1) and 410(3) have rectangular tabs 422 that extend from the blocks' bottom edges 418 that are designed to engage with the plus-shaped recesses 420 of other blocks 410(1) and 410(2) with or without detent-based interlocking (depending on the implementation). Note that a tab 422 of one block 410(1)/410(3) can engage with a particular plus-shaped recess 420 of another block 410(1)/410(2) with the blocks having any of four different relative angular orientations, i.e., 0 degrees, 90 degrees, 180 degrees, or 270 degrees. In alternative embodiments, the recesses can have shapes other than plus signs and/or the tabs can have shapes other than rectangles.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a stack 500 formed by two building blocks 510(1) and 510(2), according to another embodiment of the invention, in a particular non-nested configuration, in which the first block 510(1) is place upside down on a surface (not shown in FIG. 5), and the second block 510(2) is placed right-side up on top of the first block 510(1), with slots 520 in the bottom edges 518 of the blocks 510 engaged with one another.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a stack 600 formed by three identical building blocks 610(1)-610(3), according to another embodiment of the invention, in a particular non-nested configuration in which block 610(3) rests on blocks 610(1) and 610(2). In this embodiment, in addition to having bottom portions that have the same overall shape as blocks 210 of FIGS. 2A-2B and blocks 310 of FIGS. 3A-3G, blocks 610 have an additional, smaller-but-similarly-shaped structure 624 located on the intermediate surface 614(1) of each block 610. Note that, although not shown in FIG. 6, the intermediate surface 614(1) and/or the top surface 614(2) of one or more of the blocks 610 can have one or more recesses for either interlocking or non-interlocking engagements with the bottom edges 618 of other blocks 610 (or even other blocks 210 and/or 310).

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a stack 700 formed by three identical building blocks 710(1)-710(3), according to another embodiment of the invention, in a particular non-nested configuration in which block 710(3) rests on blocks 710(1) and 710(2). In this embodiment, instead of having racetrack-shaped horizontal surfaces, each block 710 has a frustum-shaped side wall 712, a circular intermediate surface 714, and relatively small cone-shaped structure 724 located on the intermediate surface 714. Note that, in alternative embodiments, the cone-shaped structures 724 may be frustum-shaped structures (with the pointed top removed). In still other alternative embodiments, the cone-shaped structures 724 may be omitted entirely.

FIG. 8A is a perspective view of a relatively flat building block 810 that may be used with other building blocks of the invention. Note that, depending on the implementation, block 810 might be hollow with an open bottom side or block 810 might be solid without an open bottom side. Note that, in some implementations of hollow block 810, the bottom edge of the block has structure that supports detent-based interlocking with other blocks.

FIG. 8B is a perspective view of a stack formed using five nestable building blocks 210 of FIGS. 2A-2B and two flat building blocks 810 of FIG. 8A, in a particular non-nested configuration. As indicated in FIG. 8B, using flat blocks 810 greatly increases the variety of structures that can be built because they allow bridging between other block types. In alternative embodiments, flat building blocks can have other sizes and shapes, including (without limitation) circles, triangles, and rectangles.

In general, when multiple nestable building blocks are stacked directly atop another, each comes to rest inside the other in a nested configuration. But if blocks of this type are offset before they are stacked, similar to the way in which bricks are stacked in the building of houses, nesting is prevented and non-nested configuration can be built.

Depending on the type of material used to construct the blocks and block shape, greater or lesser degrees of nesting can be achieved. In at least one version of this invention, paper or paper-thin plastics can be used as construction material for the blocks. In at least one version of this invention, the nesting should result in stacked height increases per additional nested block that are in the neighborhood of a quarter to a third of an inch to help balance structural strength and durability concerns with volume and height concerns. In other versions of this invention, greater or lesser stacking heights can result from nesting, depending on the chosen balance in these attributes.

The overall shape of the blocks can vary from block to block, and strengthening structures such as lips or ridging of the walls can be included, as long as the resultant shapes nest inside of geometrically congruent-like shapes.

In preferred embodiments, the building blocks are made of a suitable plastic material that is molded to form the various block shapes. Alternative materials and/or fabrication methods are possible.

In one embodiment, the invention is an article of manufacture comprising a plurality of nestable, identically sized building blocks (e.g., 110 of FIG. 1), each building block comprising at least one inward-slanting side wall (e.g., 112) connected to a top surface (e.g., 114) of the building block at an edge (e.g., 116) of the building block, wherein a first said building block defines a hollow interior space adapted to receive a second said building block in a nested configuration.

In certain embodiments (e.g., see FIGS. 1A-1 B) of the foregoing, each building block (e.g., 110) comprises four trapezoid-shaped side walls (e.g., 112(1)-112(4)) and a rectangle-shaped top surface (e.g., 114) connected to each side wall at an edge (e.g., 116) of the building block.

In certain embodiments (e.g., see FIGS. 2A-2B, 3A-3G, 4A-4C) of the foregoing, each building block (e.g., 210) comprises a racetrack-shaped top surface (e.g., 214) comprising two opposing parallel sides separated by two opposing curved sides; two opposing trapezoid-shaped side walls (e.g., 212(1), 212(3)) connected to the two opposing parallel sides of the top surface at two straight edges (e.g., 216(1), 216(3)) of the building block; and two opposing partial frustum-shaped side walls (e.g., 212(2), 212(4)) connected to the two opposing curved sides of the top surface at two curved edges (e.g., 216(2), 216(4)) of the building block.

In certain embodiments (e.g., see FIG. 7) of the foregoing, each building block (e.g., 710) comprises a frustum-shaped side wall (e.g., 712) connected to a circular horizontal surface (e.g., 714).

In certain embodiments (e.g., see FIG. 7) of the foregoing, each building block further comprises a second, cone-shaped side wall (e.g., 714) connected to the circular horizontal surface such that the circular horizontal surface has an annular circular shape.

In certain embodiments (e.g., see FIGS. 3A-3G) of the foregoing, the top surface (e.g., 314) of a first said building block (e.g., 310) comprises at least one recess (e.g., 320) designed to receive a portion of a bottom edge (e.g., 318) of the at least one side wall (e.g., 312) of a second said building block (e.g., 310), when the second said building block is stacked on top of the first said building block in a non-nested configuration.

In certain embodiments (e.g., see FIGS. 3A-3G) of the foregoing, the top surface of the first said building block comprises a plurality of recesses (e.g., 320), each different recess designed to receive a portion of the bottom edge of the at least one side wall of the second said building block in a different non-nested stacked configuration.

In certain embodiments (e.g., see FIGS. 3A-3G) of the foregoing, the top surface of the first said building block comprises at least first and second said recesses; and the first and second said recesses are designed to receive respectively and simultaneously (i) a portion of the bottom edge of the at least one side wall of the second said building block and (ii) a portion of a bottom edge of at least one side wall of a third said building block.

In certain embodiments (e.g., see FIGS. 3A, 3F, 3G) of the foregoing, a first said recess (e.g., 320(1)) has a curved shape adapted to receive a curved portion of the bottom edge of the at least one side wall of the second said building block, such that the second said building block is stackable on top of the first said building block in a plurality of non-nested configurations having different angular orientations between the first and second said building blocks.

In certain embodiments (e.g., see FIGS. 3B-3D) of the foregoing, a first said recess (e.g., 320(2)) has a shape adapted to receive a portion of the bottom edge of the at least one side wall of the second said building block, such that the second said building block is stackable on top of the first said building block in only two non-nested configuration having only two different angular orientations between the first and second said building blocks.

In certain embodiments (e.g., see FIG. 3D) of the foregoing, the at least one recess and the corresponding portion of the bottom edge of the at least one side wall of the second said building block are designed such that the at least one recess receives the corresponding portion in a detent-based interlocking configuration.

In certain embodiments (e.g., see FIG. 3C) of the foregoing, the at least one recess and the corresponding portion of the bottom edge of the at least one side wall of the second said building block are designed such that the at least one recess receives the corresponding portion in a non-interlocking configuration.

In certain embodiments (e.g., see FIGS. 4A-4C) of the foregoing, the portion of the bottom edge (e.g., 418) of the at least one side wall of the second said building block (e.g., 410(1), 410(3)) has extending structure (e.g., 422) that fits into the at least one recess (e.g., 420) of the first building block (e.g., 410(1), 410(2)).

In certain embodiments (e.g., see FIGS. 4A-4C) of the foregoing, the extending structure is a rectilinear tab and the at least one recess has a plus-sign shape adapted to receive the rectilinear tab in any of four different angular orientations between the first and second said building blocks.

In certain embodiments (e.g., see FIG. 5) of the foregoing, the bottom edge (e.g., 518) of the at least one side wall of each building block (e.g., 510) has at least one recess (e.g., 520) such that first and second said building blocks (e.g., 510(1), 510(2)) can be stacked in a non-nested configuration with the first said building block upside down relative to the second said building block with the at least one recess of the first said building block engaging the at least one recess of the second said building block.

In certain embodiments (e.g., see FIG. 6) of the foregoing, each building block (e.g., 610) comprises at least one first inward-slanting side wall (e.g., 612(a)) connected to an intermediate annular surface (e.g., 614(1)); and at least one second inward-slanting side wall (e.g., 612(b)) connected between the intermediate annular surface and the top surface (e.g., 614(2)), such that first and second said building blocks are stackable in a first non-nested configuration (e.g., 600) with the bottom edge (e.g., 618) of the second said building block (e.g., 610(3)) resting on the intermediate annular surface of the first said building block (e.g., 610(1)); and the first and second said building blocks are stackable in a second non-nested configuration with the bottom edge of the second said building block resting on the top surface of the first said building block.

In certain embodiments (e.g., see FIGS. 8A-8B) of the foregoing, the article further comprises a plurality of relatively flat structures (e.g., 810), each useable as an intermediate structure in a stacked, non-nested configuration (e.g., 800) of two or more said building blocks (e.g., 210).

Unless explicitly stated otherwise, each numerical value and range should be interpreted as being approximate as if the word “about” or “approximately” preceded the value or range.

It will be further understood that various changes in the details, materials, and arrangements of the parts which have been described and illustrated in order to explain embodiments of this invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from embodiments of the invention encompassed by the following claims.

In this specification including any claims, the term “each” may be used to refer to one or more specified characteristics of a plurality of previously recited elements or steps. When used with the open-ended term “comprising,” the recitation of the term “each” does not exclude additional, unrecited elements or steps. Thus, it will be understood that an apparatus may have additional, unrecited elements and a method may have additional, unrecited steps, where the additional, unrecited elements or steps do not have the one or more specified characteristics.

The use of figure numbers and/or figure reference labels in the claims is intended to identify one or more possible embodiments of the claimed subject matter in order to facilitate the interpretation of the claims. Such use is not to be construed as necessarily limiting the scope of those claims to the embodiments shown in the corresponding figures.

Reference herein to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments necessarily mutually exclusive of other embodiments. The same applies to the term “implementation.” 

What is claimed is:
 1. An article of manufacture comprising a plurality of nestable, identically sized building blocks (e.g., 110), each building block comprising at least one inward-slanting side wall (e.g., 112) connected to a top surface (e.g., 114) of the building block at an edge (e.g., 116) of the building block, wherein a first said building block defines a hollow interior space adapted to receive a second said building block in a nested configuration.
 2. [FIGS. 1A-1B] The article of claim 1, wherein each building block (e.g., 110) comprises four trapezoid-shaped side walls (e.g., 112(1)-112(4)) and a rectangle-shaped top surface (e.g., 114) connected to each side wall at an edge (e.g., 116) of the building block.
 3. [FIG. 2A-2B, 3A-3G, 4A-4C] The article of claim 1, wherein each building block (e.g., 210) comprises: a racetrack-shaped top surface (e.g., 214) comprising two opposing parallel sides separated by two opposing curved sides; two opposing trapezoid-shaped side walls (e.g., 212(1), 212(3)) connected to the two opposing parallel sides of the top surface at two straight edges (e.g., 216(1), 216(3)) of the building block; and two opposing partial frustum-shaped side walls (e.g., 212(2), 212(4)) connected to the two opposing curved sides of the top surface at two curved edges (e.g., 216(2), 216(4)) of the building block.
 4. [FIG. 7] The article of claim 1, wherein each building block (e.g., 710) comprises a frustum-shaped side wall (e.g., 712) connected to a circular horizontal surface (e.g., 714).
 5. [FIG. 7] The article of claim 4, wherein each building block further comprises a second, cone-shaped side wall (e.g., 714) connected to the circular horizontal surface such that the circular horizontal surface has an annular circular shape.
 6. [FIGS. 3A-3G] The article of claim 1, wherein the top surface (e.g., 314) of a first said building block (e.g., 310) comprises at least one recess (e.g., 320) designed to receive a portion of a bottom edge (e.g., 318) of the at least one side wall (e.g., 312) of a second said building block (e.g., 310), when the second said building block is stacked on top of the first said building block in a non-nested configuration.
 7. [FIGS. 3A-3G] The article of claim 6, wherein the top surface of the first said building block comprises a plurality of recesses (e.g., 320), each different recess designed to receive a portion of the bottom edge of the at least one side wall of the second said building block in a different non-nested stacked configuration.
 8. [FIG. 3A-3G] The article of claim 7, wherein: the top surface of the first said building block comprises at least first and second said recesses; and the first and second said recesses are designed to receive respectively and simultaneously (i) a portion of the bottom edge of the at least one side wall of the second said building block and (ii) a portion of a bottom edge of at least one side wall of a third said building block.
 9. [FIG. 3A, 3F, 3G] The article of claim 6, wherein a first said recess (e.g., 320(1)) has a curved shape adapted to receive a curved portion of the bottom edge of the at least one side wall of the second said building block, such that the second said building block is stackable on top of the first said building block in a plurality of non-nested configurations having different angular orientations between the first and second said building blocks.
 10. [FIGS. 3B-3D] The article of claim 6, wherein a first said recess (e.g., 320(2)) has a shape adapted to receive a portion of the bottom edge of the at least one side wall of the second said building block, such that the second said building block is stackable on top of the first said building block in only two non-nested configuration having only two different angular orientations between the first and second said building blocks.
 11. [FIG. 3D] The article of claim 6, wherein the at least one recess and the corresponding portion of the bottom edge of the at least one side wall of the second said building block are designed such that the at least one recess receives the corresponding portion in a detent-based interlocking configuration.
 12. [FIG. 3C] The article of claim 6, wherein the at least one recess and the corresponding portion of the bottom edge of the at least one side wall of the second said building block are designed such that the at least one recess receives the corresponding portion in a non-interlocking configuration.
 13. [FIGS. 4A-4C] The article of claim 6, wherein the portion of the bottom edge (e.g., 418) of the at least one side wall of the second said building block (e.g., 410(1), 410(3)) has extending structure (e.g., 422) that fits into the at least one recess (e.g., 420) of the first building block (e.g., 410(1), 410(2)).
 14. [FIGS. 4A-4C] The article of claim 13, wherein the extending structure is a rectilinear tab and the at least one recess has a plus-sign shape adapted to receive the rectilinear tab in any of four different angular orientations between the first and second said building blocks.
 15. [FIG. 5] The article of claim 1, wherein the bottom edge (e.g., 518) of the at least one side wall of each building block (e.g., 510) has at least one recess (e.g., 520) such that first and second said building blocks (e.g., 510(1), 510(2)) can be stacked in a non-nested configuration with the first said building block upside down relative to the second said building block with the at least one recess of the first said building block engaging the at least one recess of the second said building block.
 16. [FIG. 6] The article of claim 1, wherein each building block (e.g., 610) comprises: at least one first inward-slanting side wall (e.g., 612(a)) connected to an intermediate annular surface (e.g., 614(1)); and at least one second inward-slanting side wall (e.g., 612(b)) connected between the intermediate annular surface and the top surface (e.g., 614(2)), such that: first and second said building blocks are stackable in a first non-nested configuration (e.g., 600) with the bottom edge (e.g., 618) of the second said building block (e.g., 610(3)) resting on the intermediate annular surface of the first said building block (e.g., 610(1)); and the first and second said building blocks are stackable in a second non-nested configuration with the bottom edge of the second said building block resting on the top surface of the first said building block.
 17. [FIGS. 8A-8B] The article of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of relatively flat structures (e.g., 810), each useable as an intermediate structure in a stacked, non-nested configuration (e.g., 800) of two or more said building blocks (e.g., 210). 